Genesis 37 5

Genesis 37:5 kjv

And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.

Genesis 37:5 nkjv

Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more.

Genesis 37:5 niv

Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more.

Genesis 37:5 esv

Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more.

Genesis 37:5 nlt

One night Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him more than ever.

Genesis 37 verses

Genesis 37 5 meaning

Genesis 37:5 marks a pivotal moment in the Joseph narrative, illustrating how God's divine plan began to unfold through prophetic dreams, and simultaneously highlighting the destructive power of human jealousy and hatred within a family. Joseph recounted his first dream, which implied his superiority, to his already hostile brothers. This revelation did not foster understanding or reconciliation but intensified their animosity, setting the stage for the dramatic events that would follow.

Genesis 37 5 Context

Genesis chapter 37 introduces Joseph, the favored son of Jacob, distinguished by his father's love and the special tunic he received. Joseph's youthful reports of his brothers' wrongdoings, coupled with Jacob's clear favoritism, already bred deep resentment among his elder siblings. This verse marks the introduction of the divine element through dreams, which explicitly portray Joseph's future authority. In the ancient Near East, dreams were often considered significant messages from the divine realm, and their content, especially those depicting superiority or dominion, could greatly influence familial or social standing. Joseph's recounting of this dream directly escalates the existing fraternal animosity into intense hatred, setting in motion the chain of events that leads to his eventual sale into Egypt and fulfills God's overarching redemptive plan for Israel.

Genesis 37 5 Word analysis

• Now Joseph: Establishes the subject, the chosen instrument through whom God will work to preserve Jacob's family and prepare the way for the nation of Israel. The focus shifts to this single individual, despite him being the second youngest of thirteen.
• had a dream (וַיַּחֲלֹם חֲלוֹם - vayyachălōm chalowm): The Hebrew literally emphasizes "he dreamed a dream," signifying not just a nocturnal event but a profound, divinely ordained revelation. Dreams were a primary medium for God to communicate with patriarchs and prophets (e.g., Jacob's ladder, Pharaoh's dreams interpreted by Joseph, Nebuchadnezzar's dreams by Daniel). This dream is presented as a genuine prophetic vision of his future, not mere youthful fantasy.
• and when he told it (וַיַּגֵּד - vayyagged): This highlights the action of verbalizing the dream. Joseph's decision to share this highly sensitive and self-aggrandizing vision reveals either his naiveté or his divinely appointed compulsion to reveal the truth, despite the consequences. The act of "telling" is the direct trigger for the heightened animosity, rather than just the dream's content itself.
• to his brothers (לְאֶחָיו - l'ehav): Specifies the audience—his own kin. This accentuates the betrayal and animosity from within the closest familial circle. It also positions them as the ones directly opposed to God's revealed plan, though unwittingly acting to fulfill it.
• they hated him (וַיִּשְׂנְאוּ אֹתוֹ - vayyiśnə'u ʾōṯô): The Hebrew word sane denotes a strong, intense animosity, not mere dislike. This hatred is a recurring theme for the brothers (see Gen 37:4, 37:8). It reflects envy, fear of his elevated status, and resentment for his being the favored son. This is a deliberate, active, and hostile emotion.
• even more (עוֹד - ʿōd): This adverb intensifies the existing hatred, signifying an escalation. Their hatred was already established (Gen 37:4) due to Jacob's favoritism; the dream served as the catalyst to push it to a new, more dangerous level, prompting their violent schemes against him.
• Words-group by words-group analysis:
  • "Now Joseph had a dream": This phrase immediately signals divine intervention and foreshadows Joseph's unique role as a recipient of revelation, setting him apart. It establishes his spiritual distinction that will shape his destiny.
  • "and when he told it to his brothers": This crucial connection emphasizes that the telling (the act of communicating God's will), rather than just the having of the dream, was the precipitating event for the heightened conflict. It highlights the friction that often arises when divine truth confronts human jealousy and pride.
  • "they hated him even more": This culminating phrase powerfully conveys the destructive impact of envy and resentment when faced with perceived favoritism and divine blessing. It underscores the severity of the brothers' animosity, setting the stage for the dramatic and life-altering events of betrayal and suffering.

Genesis 37 5 Bonus section

• The first of two distinct dreams Joseph receives in this chapter (Gen 37:7, 37:9), both pointing to his future leadership. The initial dream, with sheaves bowing, indicates agricultural/earthly dominion, while the second dream, with the sun, moon, and stars bowing, implies familial/universal authority.
• The dramatic tension introduced by this verse foreshadows the larger biblical theme of divine chosenness encountering human opposition, which is seen repeatedly with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, and ultimately Jesus Himself (Jn 1:11).
• Joseph's communication of the dream highlights a youthful lack of wisdom or tact, yet it was integral to the divine unfolding. It forced the issue, setting the stage for God's hidden hand to work through their choices.
• The brothers' hatred is a significant thematic link to earlier instances of sibling rivalry in Genesis, specifically Cain and Abel, and Jacob and Esau, establishing a recurring pattern of conflict within families in the patriarch's lineage.

Genesis 37 5 Commentary

Genesis 37:5 serves as the thematic core for much of Joseph's narrative, revealing that God often initiates His sovereign plan through means that stir human resistance. Joseph's prophetic dream, divinely given, explicitly outlined his future preeminence. While the dream itself was a divine message of hope and destiny, Joseph's sharing of it ignited the simmering resentment in his brothers, exacerbating their pre-existing hatred rooted in favoritism. This intensified animosity directly precipitates the chain of events – the plot to kill him, his sale into slavery – that paradoxically leads to the fulfillment of the very dream they despised. The verse encapsulates how divine election and human sin converge, with God using the malice of men to accomplish His righteous purposes. Joseph's journey, born from familial hatred sparked by a divine dream, mirrors God's overarching plan for His chosen, often involving suffering that leads to eventual glory and redemptive provision.